Fleas and Ticks

External features of arthropods

• Jointed feet

• Chitin (body armor)

• Legs (insects = 6, arachnids = 8)

Internal features of arthropods

• Complete (open) digestive tract

• Dioecious (male + female)

• Prolific reproducers

Mechanical vector

Passively carries pathogens on its body

Biological vector

actively plays a role in the pathogens lifecycle

What type of arthropods are fleas

Insects

What type of arthropods are ticks

Arachnids

Lifecycle of Ticks

• Adult female has blood meal

• Adult female and male mate

• Female lays THOUSANDS of eggs (ewwwwwww)

• Six legged larvae hatch and have blood meal

• larvae develop into eight-legged nymphs and have blood meal

• Eight-legged nymphs develop into adults

How long can adult ticks live without a blood meal

2-3 years

What temperature is required for ticks to be active

Above freezing (32F)

What is it called when nymphs wave their hands in the air like they just dont care

Questing

What is the difference between a hard and soft tick

Presence of a scutum

How many days does it take for a tick to become engorged

4-7 days

How long must ticks be attached to a host in order to transmit disease

At least 24 hours

What is tick paralysis

A neurotoxin that is released that causes gradual paralysis and death

Prevention of Ticks

• -laner drugs (best option)

• Monthly preventatives (small animal)

• Dips and sprays (large animal)

What type of prevention should you avoid for ticks

Over the counter options

Elimination habits for ticks

• Rake and remove leaves

• Trim shrubs and low hanging branches

• Cut grass and weeds

• Create lawn borders using mulch or gravel

• Discourage wildlife interactions (deer!)

• Apply pesticides

Avoidance techniques for ticks

• Tick checks (check your cracks!)

• Regular blood tests (pets)

• Treat clothing with permethrin

• Repellents

• Wear long sleeves and pants outside

• Tuck your pants into your socks

American Dog tick

Dermacentor Variabilis

Preferred host of Dermacentor Variabilis

Medium-size mammals

Vector diseases from Dermacentor Variabilis

• Tick-paralysis!!!!

• Rocky mountain spotted fever

What is the largest tick in north america

Dermacentor Variabilis (fun fact)

What environment does the Dermacentor Variabilis prefer

• Grassy

• Shrubby

• No tree coverage

• Black-legged tick

• Deer tick

Ixodes Scapularis

Preferred host of Ixodes Scapularis

• White footed mice (juvenile)

• White-tailed deer/large mammals (adults)

Vector diseases of Ixodes Scapularis

• Lyme disease

• Babesiosis

• Anaplasmosis

Preferred environment for Ixodes Scapularis

• Deciduous forests

• Tall grasslands/shrubs bordering forest edges

Lones Star tick

Amblyomma Americanum

Preferred host of Amblyomma Americanum

• Small and large mammals (juvenile)

• Large mammals (adults)

Vector diseases of Amblyomma Americanum

• Ehrlichiosis

• Red Meat Allergy (alpha-gal syndrome)

Preferred environment of Amblyomma Americanum

Woodlands with dense shaded undergrowth

Where does Amblyomma Americanum

The ears

Brown dog tick

Rhipicephalus Sanguineus

Preferred host of Rhipicephalus Sanguineus

Dogs

Vector diseases of Rhipicephalus Sanguineus

They do NOT transmit disease to humans!

Active time frame for Rhipicephalaus Sanguineus

Year-round

Preferred environment of Rhipicephalus Sanguineus

Indoor environments (house/kennels)

How easy is it to eradicate Rhipicephalus Sanguineus

Very difficult!

Asian longhorned tick

Haemaphysalis Longicornis

Preferred host of Haemaphysalis Longicornis

• Small mammals/birds (juvenile)

• Large mammals - livestock (adults)

Vector diseases of Haemaphysalis Longicornis

• Theileriosis

• No zoonotic transmission in the US (yet)

Preferred host of Haemaphysalis Longicornis

Moist, humid leaf litter and vegetation

What kind of reproduction does Haemaphysalis Longicornis perform

Parthenogenesis

What do you have to do with Haemaphysalis Longicornis

Notify the vet or state agriculture department

Lifecycle of fleas

• Female lay eggs that fall off of the host

• Larvae eat organic debris before pupating

• Cacoon until they get stimulated to hatch

• Hatch and must find a blood meal within a week

Hatching stimuli of fleas

• Vibrations

• Body heat

• CO2

• Humidity

How many eggs can a female flea lay

• 50 egg/day

• 2,800 eggs/2 months

Symptoms of flea infestation

• Pruritus (abdomen + base of tail)

• Vector disease

• Anemia

What is flea allergy dermatitis

A hypersensitivity response to the flea saliva

How many fleas does it take to cause FAD

Just one!

What is flea dirt

Flea droppings composed of partially digested blood

How do you determine flea dirt vs dirt dirt

Add water (red=flea dirt)

Treatment methods of fleas

• Adulticide (-laner drugs)

• Insect growth regulator (hormones that stop maturity)

• Flea shampoo

• Flea comb

Control methods of indoor environment for fleas

• Vacuum every day and throw out bag/vacuum once done

• Wash bedding q2-3 weeks

• Steam clean carpets

• Spray pesticides

Control methods of outdoor environment for fleas

• Eliminate breeding habitats

• Discourage wildlife interactions

• Apply pesticides

• Natural repellants

• Flea traps

Cat flea

Ctenocephalides Felis

Preferred host of Ctenocephalides Felis

Cats and dogs

Vector diseases of Ctenocephalides Felis

• Cat scratch disease

• Dipylidium caninum

Active Timeframe of Ctenocephalides Felis

Year-round

Preferred environment of Ctenocephalides Felis

Warm, humid environments

• NOT desert/mountains

What are wildlife reservoirs of Ctenocephalides Felis

• Oppossum

• Squirrels

• Racoons

• Foxes